Marlon Stockinger: Living the life in the fast lane

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-Swiss racer Marlon Stockinger inches closer to his dream of being a Formula One driver with a recent third place win at the Nürburgring leg of the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 series.  Racing as a junior driver under the Lotus F1 Team, this win moved Stockinger two notches higher in the championship standings, placing him at eighth.

“I’m happy to have done well during the race, and will strive to maintain podium finishes as we continue the series and my journey to F1,” he said. With an impressive track record and tremendous potential, 23-year old Stockinger is well on his way to be the first Filipino F1 racer.

He will compete again at the next round in Hungaroring track in Budapest, Hungary on Sept. 13-14. Stockinger believes he will do well in this track, having liked the venue and scoring well in previous races. This is the seventh of the nine tracks forming Renault’s World Series.  The competition is a major step to qualify for the F1 series, known as the fastest and premier racing sport.

Stockinger started racing in go-karts when he was nine years old, a hobby he shared with his father. He remembers winning his first Philippine Karting Championship experience and swore then he would soon become an F1 racer.

He moved to Europe when he was 17 to go after his dream. In February 2013, he, along with six others, joined the Lotus F1 Junior Team, where they undergo rigorous training to enhance their wellness and performance as they prepare to compete in the F1 races.

As the Prince of Speed, Stockinger enjoys a fast-paced lifestyle on and off track. For someone who knows what it’s like to deal with constant travels, he finds fast and seamless connectivity as instrumental to close the gap separating him from home. “I know what it feels like to want to be constantly updated, especially if it has something to do with the people I care about. It helps me concentrate better if I know my loved ones are okay, especially during difficult times such as typhoons,” he said.

In between races abroad, Stockinger comes to the Philippines to spend time with his family and friends. Being active on social media has also made Stockinger realize the growing appreciation of Filipinos for racing.

He regularly updates his pages with stories and photos of the races and events he participates in. “Fans send me encouraging messages before I take on any race, and they’re a huge boost to my confidence. I feel more motivated and proud to carry the Philippine flag knowing I have Filipinos urging me on.”

Stockinger is also glad of the support he is getting from Globe Telecom, his telecommunication partner and the exclusive business partner of the Lotus F1 Team in the country, which recently launched its 100 percent 3G network and 100 percent 4G HSPA+ infrastructure by end of third quarter this year, providing its over 42 million customers access to faster and more seamless mobile browsing, allowing them to enjoy their digital lifestyles and the wonderful world of social media.

As the perfect embodiment of speed, Globe is committed to supporting Stockinger’s F1 journey. “It’s not everyday that we see a Filipino get close to the F1 dream. With everyone’s support, this dream could fast become a reality, and Globe is very proud to be helping Marlon realize that,” said Globe Telecom Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos.

On Aug. 30, Globe will hold an event called “Slipstream” where fans and racing aficionados can see Stockinger driving his Lotus-Gravity Charouz Formula Renault 3.5 car around Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. “We are bringing in the world’s fastest sports headlined by one of the fastest-driving young drivers in the world, happening at the country’s fastest-developing business hub, powered by the nation’s fastest and most modern network to make our customers feel what it’s like to see fast, hear fast, and be fast powered by Globe,” added Bithos.

The event will also feature Lotus F1 simulators, booths, freebies, and games in partner-establishments. The day will be capped off with a high-velocity concert and party to celebrate the milestone.